Mechanical Locking Device

ABSTRACT

A mechanical safety locking device is electromechanically coupled to an authenticator device, which provides stable interlocking in an active safety position where the interlocking is only deactivated by means of a predefined personalised password associated with a specific user. The mechanical locking device comprises a trigger lever that cooperates with a trigger bar; an interlocking element which is configured to interlock the trigger lever; a displacer element which is adapted to move an interlock bolt between an interlocked position, defined by the physical contact between an appendix and the interlock bolt, and the disinterlocked position, defined by the absence of physical contact between the appendix and the interlock bolt.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lightweight firearm equipped with amechanical safety locking device disposed in the grip of the lightweightfirearm.

STATE OF THE ART

A firearm is normally equipped with a manually actuated safety catchwhich has the function of preventing the firearm from dischargingaccidentally or involuntarily, preventing operation and/or activation ofthe firing mechanism thereof, directly or indirectly.

It is known that, in order to prevent the accidental discharge of afirearm, a certain component of the firing sequence must be actuated.The operation of the firing sequence is explained below based on FIG. 1,which shows an exploded view of a short lightweight firearm with a gripsafety.

The internal firing mechanism of a pistol with a safety catch comprisesat least a hammer (1.1), a hammer stirrup (1.2), a hammer spring (1.3),a trigger (1.4), a trigger bar or hammer bridge (1.5), a safety catch(1.6), a grip safety (1.7) and a firing pin (1.8).

When a user cocks the gun to subsequently fire it, the hammer (1.1)rotates around the hammer pin (1.9), moving from an idle position to aretarded position. At that moment, the hammer spring (1.3), through thehammer stirrup (1.2), exerts a force on the hammer (1.1).

After this movement by the components of the firing sequence, the hammer(1.1) remains in a fixed position due to the fact that the safety catch(1.6) prevents rotation thereof with respect to the pin (1.9).

When the gun is cocked and the shooter exerts pressure on the trigger(1.4), the trigger bar (1.5) moves in the direction of the barrel (1.10)towards the rear of the gun (1.11).

When the shooter grips the gun, the appendix (1.12) of the grip safety(1.7) allows the trigger bar (1.5) to move so that it comes into contactwith the safety catch (1.6), causing it to rotate around the safetycatch pin so that the hammer moves freely and the tension accumulated inthe hammer spring is released, causing it to rotate suddenly and strikethe firing pin (1.8), causing ignition of the gunpowder in the cartridgeand subsequent discharge.

The function of the sear spring (1.13) is to return the trigger bar(1.5), safety catch (1.6) and grip safety (1.7) to the idle position. Ifthe gun is not being gripped the appendix (1.12) of the grip safety(1.7) prevents the trigger bar (1.5) from moving in the event thatpressure is exerted on the trigger (1.4), avoiding completion of thefiring sequence.

At present there is demand for firearm equipment with safety devicesthat allow use thereof by previously authenticated and authorisedpersons, designed to effectively prevent use of the firearm byunauthorised persons, wherein the safety device does not interfere withthe manual mechanical safety mechanisms already incorporated in thefirearm.

SUMMARY

The present invention seeks to resolve one or more of the previouslyexpounded drawbacks by means of a mechanical safety lock device such asthat claimed in the claims.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanical safety lockingdevice electromechanically coupled to an authenticator device thatprovides stable interlocking in an active safety position, where theinterlocking can only be deactivated by means of a personalisedpredefined password associated with a specific user.

Another object of the invention is to supply a mechanical safety lockingdevice positioned in the grip behind the trigger of the lightweightfirearm, maintaining the structural characteristics of the grip andpreventing or allowing use of the firearm by a previously authorisedperson through the authentication device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in thefollowing description based on the attached drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric perspective view of a lightweight firearmaccording to the state of the art;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a firearm that includes a mechanicalsafety locking device;

FIG. 3 shows an elevational view of the lightweight firearm thatincludes the mechanical safety locking device; and

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the mechanical safety locking device.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2 and 3, which show a mechanical safetylocking device disposed between the outer face of the grip of thelightweight firearm frame and the inner face of a side of the handgrip;and which has an active position and an inactive position combined witha disinterlocked and interlocked position, respectively,electromechanically supplied by an authenticator device (7.1).

The mechanical blocking device comprises a trigger lever (2.1) thatcooperates with a trigger bar (1.5) or firearm hammer bridge; aninterlocking element (2.4) or interlock bolt for interlocking thetrigger lever (2.1); a displacer element (2.6) for moving the interlockbolt (2.4) between the interlocked position, defined by the physicalcontact between an appendix (2.12) and the interlock bolt (2.4), and theinterlocked position, defined by the absence of physical contact betweenthe appendix (2.12) and the interlock bolt (2.4).

The trigger lever (2.1) has a broken zig-zag line shape, comprising afirst section (2.2) which is in physical contact with one of theparallel sides of the trigger bar (1.5), which extends in asubstantially straight line from the trigger (1.4) area towards thefiring pin of the firearm, folding upon itself, i.e. folding 180° alongthe exterior of the first section (2.2); this second section (2.3)extends up to the central body of the trigger bar (1.5) next to thetrigger (1.4) area; and a third section (2.12) or appendix perpendicularto the second section (2.3).

In the interlocked position, the interlock bolt (2.4) interrupts theaxial movement of the appendix (2.12) and, therefore, of the triggerlever (2.1). In this situation, the trigger lever (2.1) cannot move orslide, thereby preventing completion of the firing sequence, even if anauthorised user actuates the trigger (2.8). However, in the interlockedposition, the trigger lever (2.1) can move freely.

The grip safety (1.7) is in physical contact with the end of the firstsection (2.2) of the trigger lever (2.1). The first section (2.2) isdisposed in the interior of the firearm body and is in contact with anelement of the firearm firing sequence. The other sections (2.3, 2.12)of the trigger lever (2.1) are disposed on the exterior of the firearmin such a manner that a side wall (2.5) of the grip area of the firearmframe is disposed between the first section (2.2) and the second section(2.3) of the trigger lever (2.1).

The trigger lever (2.1) has a broken zig-zag line shape which allowspart of the components of the mechanical safety locking device to bedisposed in the exterior of the firearm frame, such as the interlockbolt (2.4) and the displacer element (2.6), which are hidden from sightand fixed to the sides (3.1) of the grip, in such a manner that themechanical locking device is invisible, providing greater safety toauthorised users.

The locking device elements are distributed in the firearm frame.

The location of the various mechanical locking device elements in thefirearm allows adaptation of the physical design and dimensions of eachelement of the device to prevent deformation thereof due to the pressureexerted on the trigger (2.8) on firing.

In the disinterlocked position, when an authorised user exerts pressureon the trigger (2.8), the trigger lever (2.1) moves axially towards thefiring pin area of the firearm. Previously, the interlock bolt (2.4) hasbeen vertically moved away from the gun barrel and disposed in thedisinterlocked position, in which the trigger lever (2.1) can movefreely.

As of that moment, the rest of the components of the firing sequenceintervene independently from the mechanical locking mechanism.

Once the firearm has been fired, the trigger lever (2.1) returns to itsidle position aided by a compressed recoil spring (5.6).

One end of the recoil spring (5.6) is fixed mechanically to the triggerlever (2.1) and the other end of the recoil spring (5.6) is fixedmechanically to the firearm frame or firearm grip.

However, in the interlocked position, the trigger lever (2.1) is notaxially displaced towards the firearm firing pin area, as the interlockbolt (2.4) comes into physical contact with the appendix (2.2), therebypreventing completion of the firing sequence.

The displacer element (2.6) is adapted to move the interlock bolt (2.4)between the interlocked and disinterlocked position, said displacerelement (2.6) being of the bushing (2.10) type, which is adapted tomechanically engage with the interlock bolt (2.4).

The bushing (2.6) is adapted to transform the rotational movement of areducer motor (2.11), along a straight line, in this case, asubstantially vertical movement whereby the position of the interlockbolt (2.4) is controlled.

The interlock bolt (2.4) may move in a direction perpendicular to thegun barrel or in another direction that prevents the free movement ofthe trigger lever (2.1) when it is in the interlocked position andreleases the lever (2.1) when it is in the disinterlocked position.

The reducer motor (2.11) is disposed in a fixed predefined position thatsecures it to the grip (6.9) or firearm frame (2.5) by means of amechanical fixing element (6.8), such as for example, a double bolt andscrew assembly. The reducer motor (2.11) is thus disposed in a fixedposition with respect to the firearm body and there is a controlleddisplacement of the interlock bolt (2.4) with respect to that fixedpoint of the firearm body.

In the event that the fixer (6.8) is mechanically secured to the firearmgrip (6.9), the grip (6.9) is fixed to the firearm frame (2.5) by meansof a standard mechanical fixing subassembly, such as for example a setof screws (3.5).

Rails are disposed along the inner surface (6.7) of the grip that serveas a guide for the linear movement of the interlock bolt (6.4). In orderto facilitate the guiding action, the inverted pattern of that made onthe inner side of the grip (6.7) may be engraved on the surface of theinterlock bolt (2.4) that comes into contact with the grip (6.7),further facilitating the linear movement of said interlock bolt (2.4).

In relation to FIG. 4, the mechanical locking device also comprises anauthenticator device (7.1) for generating electrical control signalsthat are sent to the reducer motor (2.11) to allow the interlock bolt(2.4) to move between the interlocked and disinterlocked position.

The authenticator device (7.1) is adapted to evaluate whether a user ofthe firearm is or is not authorised to use said firearm in accordancewith a personalised password provided by a potential user of thefirearm.

If the personalised password provided is positively verified, theauthenticator device (7.1) sends an electrical signal to the reducermotor (7.11), which moves the interlock bolt (2.4) from an interlockedposition to a disinterlocked position. Otherwise, if it is negativelyverified, no electrical signal is sent from the authenticator device(7.1). By default, the locking device is in a permanently lockedposition and only allows use of the firearm upon identification of anauthorised user.

In order to compact the mechanical locking device, the authenticatordevice (7.1) is assembled on the inner face of a side (6.7) of thefirearm grip.

The authenticator device (7.1) comprises a power source (7.2), a statusindicator button (7.9), a light signal (7.4), a central control unit(7.5) comprising a microprocessor (7.6) and a memory-type mass storageunit (7.7).

Additionally, the authenticator device (7.1) includes a grip detectionunit (7.8) and a grip transmitter-receiver, namely, a grip transceiver(7.3).

The power source (7.2) supplies electricity to all the components of themechanical locking device and, in particular, to the displacer (2.6)wherethrough the position of the interlock bolt (2.4) is controlled. Thepower source (7.2) is of the disposable battery type, rechargeablebattery type, etc. If a rechargeable battery is used, a USB port shallbe disposed to charge the rechargeable battery, for example.

On actuating the indicator button (7.9), the light signal (7.4) visuallyindicates whether the locking device is in the interlocked ordisinterlocked position.

The personalised password can be introduced using a keyboard (8.1)disposed on firearm grip or using a portable alphanumeric keyboard (8.2)that allows remote connection through the transceiver (7.3) of themechanical locking device.

Once the personalised password has been introduced in the authenticatordevice (7.1), said device compares it with a stored password. If theaccess code supplied and that stored coincide, the interlock bolt (2.4)is moved to the disinterlocked position, allowing the firearm to beused.

When an authorised user grips the firearm, the grip detector (7.8) isadapted to allow the power source (7.2) to supply electricity to thedifferent components of the authenticator device (7.1).

Further, the personalised password may also be supplied by a transmitterdevice to the authenticator device (7.1) via the grip transceiver (7.3).Communication between the transmitter device and the grip transceiver isvia a BLUETOOTH-type radio interface. Consequently, the user of thefirearm does not have to introduce the personalised password, as whenthe two devices are within range of the radio interface, i.e. the twodevices detect each other, the transmitter device emits a signalcontaining the personalised password to the grip transceiver (7.3),which retransmits said signal to the authenticator device (7.1).

1. A mechanical safety locking device of a lightweight firearm, whereinthat the mechanical locking device comprises: a trigger lever thatcooperates with a trigger bar; an interlocking element which isconfigured to interlock the trigger lever; a displacer element which isadapted to move an interlock bolt between an interlocked position,defined by the physical contact between an appendix and the interlockbolt, and the disinterlocked position, defined by the absence ofphysical contact between the appendix and the interlock bolt.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the trigger lever has a broken zig-zag lineshape comprising a first section which is in physical contact with thetrigger bar, which extends substantially in a straight line from thetrigger area to the firing pin area thereof, folding upon itself on theouter side of the first section; and a third section perpendicular tothe second section.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the interlock boltis configured to be moved by the displacer device between theinterlocked and disinterlocked position.
 4. The device of claim 3wherein the displacer element is of the bushing type, which is adaptedto mechanically engage the interlock bolt.
 5. The device of claim 1wherein the mechanical locking device also comprises an authenticatordevice for generating electrical control signals which are sent to thedisplacer element and allow the interlock bolt to move between theinterlocked and disinterlocked position.
 6. The device of claim 5wherein the authenticator device is adapted to evaluate a predefinedpassword received via a grip transmitter-receiver supplied by apotential user of the firearm; if the verification of the personalisedpassword is positive, the displacer element moves the interlock bolt toits disinterlocked position.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein thepredefined password is supplied to the authenticator device by means ofan alphanumeric keyboard disposed on the firearm or by means of aportable alphanumeric keyboard which allows remote connection via atransceiver included in the mechanical locking device.